Closure of Lake Borgne surge barrier for Isaac could begin soon

The Army Corps of Engineers could start closing the Lake Borgne Surge Barrier by late morning as it prepares for the arrival of Tropical Storm Isaac. Closing the nearly two-mile long, 26-foot high wall to block storm surge from Lake Borgne to the east of the city will take several hours. Corps officials could start working on that around 11 a.m.

The Lake Borgne Surge Barrier, also called The Great Wall of Louisiana, is a nearly two-mile-long, 26-foot-high barrier to prevent the kind of flooding that ravaged the Lower 9th Ward.

Teams of Army Corps officials are on site at the West Closure Complex, the Seabrook Floodgate Complex and the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Surge Barrier. They will remain on-hand throughout the storm.

The Orleans Avenue outfal canal was closed at 11 p.m. Monday.

The eight construction gaps in the levee system in the five-parish New Orleans area have all been closed with Hesco baskets and sandbags, except for Highway 90 in eastern New Orleans and Highway 23 in Belle Chasse at Oakville. Those roads will be closed some time between midday and late afternoon.